SAMMAMISH, Wash. -- A Sammamish man who came face to face with bears inside his garage told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News he went after them with a baseball bat and is prepared in case the 300-pound animals return.
Eric Radtke told reporter David Quinlan that he was at home on Sunday when he saw two bears entering his garage. He chased them, aluminum bat in hand, as they fled across the street and into the woods, leaving a trail of trash behind.
"I was pounding on the concrete, making as much noise as I can," Radtke said.
He said he saw the bears four different times on Sunday. He showed claw and bite marks on his garbage cans to prove it.
When asked what it's like going face-to-face with a bear, Radtke said, "You probably have to change your underwear after you do it. It's not fun."
Radtke has armed himself in case the bears return. At the direction of the Fish and Wildlife Department, he purchased a paint ball gun, wasp spray and an air horn. But Radtke said he doesn't want a fight; he just wants them caught.
The problem is that there's no place to put them if they are caught.
Fish and Wildlife said there is still too much snow in the mountains and that trapping and relocating a bear will only delay the problem, not solve it.
"We can't take a bear from Sammamish, take them to North Bend and let them loose there," said Kim Chandler of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It's either going to be a problem for someone else there or he'll back in Sammamish in 48 hours."
Radtke said he feels hopeless and has no plans on going after the bears again with his bat.
"I would not recommend it. Don't try this at home," he said.
Instead he plans to keep his garbage locked up and watch for paw prints in his yard.
"I totally feel alone in what I can do to protect my family," he said.
Fish and Wildlife said that unless the bears show aggressive behavior, it will not put out traps. And if officials capture and relocate a bear, they will have to kill the animal if it decides to come back.
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